I’m leary of the story of Rav Shach. I don’t believe that he would be so flippant – a good wife doesnt need to know how to bake cookies. She needs to know how to run a proper Jewish home (which incidentally, a man really does too). She needs to understand halacha. I personally am not mekabel the story of Rav Shach because I don’t think he would do that to girls who (at least portrayed in the story) just asked a good question in NACH (its not like they were getting into more controversial areas like gemara – a different point to debate). There is much conjecture on both sides and I understand Oomis’ point.
Oomis, I am sorry you were attacked by everyone. It seems like people here cannot accept any criticism on their rabbonim, but feel free to dish it out if its a “more modern” Rabbi.
Ames, to the Beis Medrash point – a Beis Medrash is just really a designated place of learning. At Stern College, they have a room called the Beis Medrash. Its a nice place where the seforim are stored and is condusive to learning (the tables/chairs are appropriate, the seforim are there, the only conversation going on is the learning etc). So, it helps women learn. I am not sure why you take offense to that.
For those of you who cry “feminist!” to Jfem because learning increases her yirei shamayim – that is ludicrous. We all relate to Hashem in different ways and some women are enticed towards learning. You may not feel that way, but she does and its important that she (and other women who apperciate the learning) continue. I am not a hard-core learner by any stretch of the imagination, but I understand that some women are.